Extension for brake levers



F. T. HUGHES. v

EXTENSION FOR BRAKE LEVERS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 1920. RENEWED on. 31. 1921.

1,409,448.- I Patented Mar. 14,1922.

IN l/EN TOR Y ATTORNEY Extensions for Brake Levers, of which the FREDERICK T. HUGHES, or -LOS=:A1\IGELES;; CALIFORNIA.

Application, filed May, 1,1920, Serial No. 378,098;

To all ii mm '2? m my concern B it known that I, FRE ERICK; T. Y He is, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Los Angeles, in the countyof Los Angeles and State: of California, have invented new and useful lmpmvements in tollowing isa specification. U

My invention relates more specifically to an; extension meansfor brake levers and other levers used for controlling the operatingmechanism of a motor vehicle.

In many of the motor vehicles as at present manufactured, the brake and gear shifting levers are usually of such a short length and are arranged so inconveniently that when the operator desires to shift the same from one extreme, position to the other a considerable movement of the body is necessitated. In order to overcome this objection, extension devices have. been employed, adapted to be secured to the lever handle and to project in a convenient position to the operator. lVhen such an extension device is employed on a lever which is provided with a locking lat-ch operating handle, it is obvious that the operator in order to manipulate said latch handle must move the body to reach the same. 7 v

It isthe object of my present invention to overcome the above recited difficulty by providing an extension handle-having an auxiliary latch operating device secured thereto. arranged conveniently to the handle end otsaid extension member, and providing a simple means for interlocking said auxiliary latch member to the main lever latch handle, whereby the extension handle and latch operating mechanism will always be in a convenient position to the operator, thus avoiding the necessity of any'movementof the body during a lever shifting operation.

Other objects will appear in the following description, will .be pointed out in the claims and will be embodied in the accom panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the upper end of an operating lever, showingmy eX- tension lever and auxiliary latch operating device applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross section, taken on the line 2-.2 of Fig. 1,-viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the extension lever 5 is clamped as at 6 in any suitable manner to the upwardly engaged position. The? extens on known Ford motor car;

nxrreusi'onron BBA QE ER Specification o mer ent PatentedsM-ar. 14, 1922;

-. iws ie licr. 1 32,1 sr fle; 5 ,770.

spring pressed latch rhandl cf 8, adapted to operate. t lw s nselatc r not shown)? by (1 9 ow W ill "be held normally in an lever 5 is preferably are S" ATENT orr ce'j meetin -end Of. the usua p raihg leve m hs iw e t hetl tq a sp 1, be, ate tpose b twenv e l er 7 and ,lia i' l 8 or er t t. t e'i ki g ete ranged approximately at right angles with the main lever 7 and extends inwardly toward the seat of the operator and is provided on its free. end with a knob 11 adapted to be grasped by the operator.

Pivoted at 12 to the extension handle 5 is an auxiliary finger latch 13 adapted to engage with the latch handle 8 to operate the same. The finger latch 13 is preferably formed of a piece of strap metal which is suitably shaped at its upstanding end. ad

jacent the knob 11 to form a finger grip 14. The strap metal is twisted at right angles as'at 15 to form a bearing surface ada ted to rest against the'side of lever 5 an to receive the pivoting member 12. 'The'l0We1' end of the strap metal just below the han-' dle 5'is again twisted at right angles and extends downwardly adjacent the handle 8. The extreme lower end of member 13" is bent approximately at right angles and is bifurcated to form a yoke 15, havin'g the inturned prongs 16. The yoke 15 surrounds the-handle 8, said handle beingencompassed between member 13 and the prongs 16. By this arrangement it will be obvious that a hinged connection is madebet-ween the members V8 and 13, and any movement ofmember 13 will impart movement to member 8.

In operating my device the operator operate in the usual manner to disengage the locking latch; r

brake shifting levers, as wellasbrakelevers, the device as'above ClGSCI'lbGCl being adm rably adapted for use onthe brake and gear the'fwell shifting lever which is used on What I claim is: V V I 7 1. A lever extension device, comprising grasps the knob 11' and by manipulating' the finger grip 1 1 causes the handle 8 to V an'extension member adapted to be secured V said latch operating handle.

to an operating lever, said operating lever being provided Witha latch operating handle, and a finger latch pivoted to said extension member adapted to loosely engage with 2. A lever extension device, comprising an extension member adapted to be secured to an operating lever, which is provided with a latch operating handle, and a finger latch pivoted to said extension member provided on its downwardly projecting end with a yoke adapted toembrace said latch operating handle.

3. A lever extension device, comprisin an extension member adapted to be secure to an operating lever having a latch operating handle mounted thereon and a finger latch pivoted on said extension member, said finger latch being formed of a piece of strap metal which is twisted at right angles at its upper end to form a finger grip and is twisted at right an les at its lower end, said extreme lower enddming bent outwardly at approximately right angles and formed into a yoke adapted to engage with said latch operatinghandle. a

' 4. In combination with a latch operated lever for automobiles, an extension arm detachably secured to the end of said lever, and a latch operating means pivotally securedto said arm, the lower end of said latch operating means loosely engaging the latch handle of the lever.

'In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th day of April, 1920;

FREDERICK T. HUGHES. 

